Jazz as a metaphor for business? It's not such a stretch, says musician and motivator Michael Gold. AT ABOUT THE TIME THAT THE MODERN CORPORATION WAS BEING born, so too was modern jazz. For nearly a century, the two have evolved in almost completely...
A strong brand presence does more than just resonate with consumers. It also creates an imperative inside the company that connects employees, managers, and shareholders. From Starbucks to Southwest Airlines, successful companies owe a lot to the development...
PERSPECTIVES: SALES When it comes to intangible business services, branding can get you on the short list, but differentiation gets you the sale. How does Coke differentiate itself from Pepsi? Ford from Toyota? Time from Newsweek? Largely through branding...
Research shows that companies that follow the five "golden rules" of new product development have a greater chance of success. All companies must generate innovative new products and services if they are to stay healthy and grow. Increased competition,...
PERSPECTIVES: STRATEGY Surviving - and thriving - amidst chaos isn't impossible. The secret lies in corporate culture, a contrarian attitude, the art of anticipation, and change strategies. My company, Rosenbluth International, is growing by over $1...
LAST WORDS Every meeting is an opportunity for leaders to connect with employees and convey a sense of mission: who we are, where we are going, and why. Most meetings do not work. I am referring here to the large (100-plus employees) internal meetings...
FRONT LINES "He who rules the standards rules the economic flowthrough." So says pop culture expert Bruce Sterling, who is known as "the king of dead products." That statement is especially true in the entertainment world, where keeping tabs on audience...
Before you take charge of a troublesome situation, think about letting someone else handle it. The Trap How many times has a subordinate walked into your office and announced something like this: "Boss, we've just discovered a huge hole in our network...
Innovation expert Robert Sutton reveals the mind-set and strategies needed to go from theory to practice. How do smart companies turn knowledge into action - and what stops them? Over the years, I've met countless executives, managers, and engineers...
Nike's resident "Katalyst" is helping employees at all levels to embrace the company's vision, and in turn extend the brand. Phil Knight, the CEO of Nike, calls me "The Voice." This unofficial title describes the role I play there, but I prefer the term...
In the classic scene from the movie The Graduate, the recent college grad played by Dustin Hoffman is portentously offered one word of business advice: "Plastics." This year, the newly diploma'ed are hearing two words: "Web services." Indisputably, the...